Though the waves were not particularly impressive at New Jersey’s Belmar Beach last week, a different kind of surfing event, the 10th annual Beach Bash, was still a huge success. Hosted by Autism Family Services of New Jersey (AFSNJ), the crowd swelled to more than 7,000 children and families affected by autism, some traveling across the country to participate in the event.

“The goal is to create a community, and to make the event something that locals look forward to so that it gets bigger and better every year,” said Eric Joice, executive director of AFSNJ.

AFSNJ has long been the leading provider of non-residential support for families with autistic children in New Jersey. As the state with the highest autism rates, where one in every 45 children have autism as opposed to one in 65 that is the national average, the organization works particularly hard to create unique community events for its families. “Surfing is only part of it,” Joice continued. “We want the event to be a celebration of what someone with autism can do if they put their mind to it, and the community pulls for them.”

The first event, held in 2004, was modeled after similar events on the West Coast organized by surfer Izzy Paskowitz. Paskowitz founded Surfers Healing for his son, Isaiah, who was diagnosed with autism and was having trouble connecting with other people. “He [Paskowitz] realized that the water had a calming effect,” Joice explained. “When I heard about the events that they were holding, I begged them to help us set up something in New Jersey. They always ridicule us for the bad surf, but the people at Surfers Healing have really helped make our events a success.”

That’s an understatement.

This year’s event was expanded to two days, with 280 children surfing the first day, and an additional 35 hitting the waves the next. “I will never forget the first year,” Joice said when recounting his favorite moment. “A young lady who was seven years old paddled out with the instructors—before, she didn’t even want to be touched, and she was so uncomfortable with strangers—but she went out and when she came back with her arms raised in triumph, her parents broke down into tears.”

Besides the actual surfing, 35 schools, vendors, and nonprofits, including sponsors like Whole Foods and Surf Taco, also provided families with food and fun throughout the day. “The Beach Bash was a day where we could just be a family […] and we were surrounded by families who were just like us,” said one participant’s mother, Nancy Scinto. “My son surfed for the first time and it was too amazing for words.”

Another mother, Susan Green, echoed her sentiments, saying, “The good feeling from the Beach Bash extends well beyond that day. You feel that there is a place in society for our kids and they can reach potential we never dreamed they could.”

AFSNJ hopes to continue to grow and will, for the first time this year, offer a program called Make Change for Autism, which encourages schools to collect loose change for the autism effort.

“One in every 65 really is a significant health issue,” Joice said. “Each family is affected differently and so we hope that we can continue to provide the information, services, and support that they need.”

To learn more about AFSNJ, visit the website.

Images courtesy of Donna Green Photography and Autism Family Services of New Jersey